Explaining Resumes Gaps

The ideal situation for a job seeker is to find their next job while they are still employed and be able to make a nice smooth, seamless transition from one position to the next.   They are primarily in control of their last day worked at the old job and the first day at their new job.  For those of us that have been canned, it’s not so much the case.   Our last day was decided for us and we usually don’t know when our start date will be for our next job.

It’s an unfortunate fact that in the western world, a job candidate is much more desirable if they are currently working.   Our culture frowns on the idea that someone might want to take more than one week for themselves and not dedicate around 50 to 60 hours of their life per week to increasing the bottom line of a company.

Recruiters seem to operate with the mindset that if you’re not employed, you’re not employable.   Why would anyone ever choose to not be working?   Recruiters probably have the hunch that the unemployed are not working because they were fired or unable to get a job and thus they are simply bad candidates.   The folks running talent acquisition departments instead covet the people currently doing the desired job but just at a different company.  Never-mind that this mode of operation will by its nature select for people that are proven to be un-loyal and leave their employer when something better comes along.   It’s a bit like only choosing to date someone that is currently in a relationship.  If they’ll cheat WITH you, they’ll likely cheat ON you.   Loyalty isn’t really part of the equation these days. in the working world though.

Longer Term Unemployment

If you find yourself unemployed for a period longer then a month or so, one of the hurdles you’re going to need to get over is explaining your time where you weren’t working; otherwise known as “the resume gap”.   If you have a resume gap you’re most likely going to need to devote a portion of all of your job interviews with explaining your resume gap.

It’s bad enough having to enter your employment dates and confess all to the horrible recruiting systems like Taleo or Brassring.  But then you have to explain to your interviewer as well.

Things go through recruiters minds when you’ve been unemployed for more than six months.   “Was this person in jail?”   “Did they have a string of short stints only lasting a couple weeks?”  “Does no-one else want them?… Maybe they are seeing something we missed” . Now this line of thinking is unfortunate, but your best line of defense is to have good explanations for WHY you weren’t working.   Explaining the resume gap is how we address this.  With no further adieu…

Resume Gap Explanations

Charity Work

If you can’t find work, you might as well spend your time doing something besides the job search.   Charity work will look good on your resume and you’ll never know who you might meet that would be impressed with your skills.  You might learn some new skills too.  Oh yeah..I think charity work helps people too sometimes.

Start a Business/Freelance

Starting a business or freelancing is undoubtedly more respectable than sitting around watching “The Price Is Right” all day.    You never know, you might actually make enough money that you won’t need to keep living your life in a manner that pleases the employment decision makers.

Work for a company that no longer exists?

Well if you worked for a company that no longer exists, it’s going to be hard for future employers to verify your employment.   Hmmmm.  You say you spent the last seven months doing importing and exporting at Vandelay Industries?   Don’t do anything dishonest here.

Focus on some type of education or training

You can’t fault a person for trying to improve themselves right?   If you’re trying to find work and not having much luck, it might be a good idea to consider enhancing your skillset with education.   Recruiters will probably be more impressed with traditional schooling that gives you some sort of diploma or certificate, but other options to learn online for free or at a reasonable cost are gaining more respect.

Caring for a sick relative

It wouldn’t be my first choice to explain a resume gap but this does happen, and it’s a valid excuse.   A positive spin is this will show you’re a caring person that puts others first.  But some could take this as a negative that you have personal family issues that interfere with your work life and that goes against the culture where work comes before everything.

bad interview

5 Common Job Interview Mistakes

5 Job Interview Mistakes

When an interviewer asks you if you have any questions, the answer should ALWAYS be “YES”. If you don’t ask any questions they will think you aren’t interested in the job or didn’t prepare for the interview. Some great sample questions to ask are “Can you tell me what the work culture is within my team?”, “What would a typical day be like for me in this position?”, “What are the short-term goals of the department right now?” and “What types of challenges are you facing?”

  1. Not Knowing Enough about the Company

One question you’ll almost always get at every interview is “Why do you want to work at THIS company”. Your answer should show that you know about this company. Talk about how you would be proud to work for a company that has 75 years history and is the top retailer for the industry for example

Of course, you need to speak about yourself and answer the questions but an interview is also for LISTENING. Be sure to pay attention to what the interviewer is saying. An interview is not just a chance for a company to check you out. It’s also your chance to check out the company.

2. Not Asking Questions

When an interviewer asks you if you have any questions, the answer should ALWAYS be “YES”. If you don’t ask any questions they will think you aren’t interested in the job or didn’t prepare for the interview. Some great sample questions to ask are “Can you tell me what the work culture is within my team?”, “What would a typical day be like for me in this position?”, “What are the short-term goals of the department right now?” and “What types of challenges are you facing?”

“My teacher did it the best way! He asked difficult questions and gave feedback.”Alex, IT engineering candidate at a software company talking about working with Language Shine

3. Speaking Too Much

Of course, you need to speak about yourself and answer the questions but an interview is also for LISTENING. Be sure to pay attention to what the interviewer is saying. An interview is not just a chance for a company to check you out. It’s also your chance to check out the company.

4. Not Speaking Enough

When the interviewer asks a question, you should NOT be answering with a one word answer or in very short sentences. Usually, you’ll want to answer the question and then discuss some supporting evidence for why you gave your answer. Prepare a few stories to discuss in advance of the interview.

5. Not Knowing the Language of the Industry

When you are interviewing for a position, you should have some knowledge of the business words and phrases used for that industry. It would be a mistake to go to a sales job interview if you don’t know the business meaning of words like: “leads”, “cold calling”, and “closing. Don’t go to an technical interview without understanding “requirements”, “production”and “QA” as well.

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A list of consulting contract companies to help you find work

Should you find yourself terminated and wanting to actually go back into an office and work, here’s a list of companies that could possibly help you.

 

Agency Name
AccruePartners
Adecco
Aerotek
Artisan
Atrium
Award Staffing
CornerStone Staffing
CoWorx Staffing Services
Creative Circle
Davis Companies
HH Staffing
Insight Global
Integrity Staffing Solutions
JWilliams Staffing
Keepers Staffing
Kelly Services
KNF&T
Lasalle Network
Meador Staffing Services
Nelson
Pinnacle
PrideStaff
Primary Services
Randstad
Remedy Intelligent Staffing
Robert Half
Roth Staffing
Seek
Snelling
SNI Companies
Spherion
Star Staffing
The Help Company
The Hype! Agency
Workway